Your Weekend Cheat Sheet: The Top 3

"The faster we scroll, the less we see."

Hello Friends,

This week, I met an icon. Her name? Alina Fernandez. Her dad? Fidel Castro, the Cuban dictator who seized power in 1959 and changed the fate of the island nation forever.

Alina escaped the communist dictatorship created by her own father (by hiding her identity under a disguise) and became an inspiring figure for other Cubans fleeing the regime.

This week, I got a sneak peek at a new documentary and full-length film about her life; I also interviewed Alina on stage in front of a live audience. I hope to share more about her projects soon, but I found her presence and story more than inspiring.

Courage carries weight – it hangs on people like an invisible cloak. But Alina also carries an elegance – as subtle as the small butterfly clips holding back her hair. A reminder that even when we navigate life's challenges, we don't have to lose ourselves, our style or our desire for delight. Just one smartHER lesson I'm reflecting on this week ...

Without further ado, here's our Top 3:

📰 Life Is Back in Print: "The faster we scroll, the less we see." This sentence comes from the announcement of LIFE Magazine returning to print. LIFE launched as a weekly magazine in 1936 and ceased regular print publication in 2000. The comeback releases November 23, thanks to new owners model/entrepreneur Karlie Kloss and her husband, businessman Joshua Kushner (brother to Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump's husband).

⌚ Two Rolexes: U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz held up a photo of the late Fidel Castro wearing two Rolex watches, which value at about $40,000 or 55 years of an average Cuban's wages. Waltz used this to underscore the gap between the leaders who live in luxury and the people they govern, who live a life of scarcity without access to basic items and services, like electricity. His words led the Cuban delegation to storm the aisles of the United Nations. This incident coincided with my conversation on Cuba. A strong reminder to keep an eye on this part of the world, as the Trump administration continues to call out the communist regime and raise more questions about potential American intervention.

🎃 Halloween + Headlights: Halloween claims the lives of more child pedestrians than any other day of the year. One study found 43% more pedestrian deaths on Halloween evenings. This year, the clocks also fall back overnight into Sunday, so darkness arrives earlier next week too. BTW: if oncoming headlights feel piercing lately, trust your eyes. The Washington Post reports why: bulbs are brighter and cars are bigger, so headlights are, in fact, more blinding.

Armband: I recently found a light-up snap bracelet at my local running store that I use for early or late walks. I found a similar one on Amazon that might come in handy for you or your family as the days grow darker earlier.

Podcast: I loved Oprah's conversation with Jim Morrison, the first person EVER to ski down the north face of Mount Everest. That feat alone makes Jim a fascinating subject, but his personal story of loss and resilience stayed with me most. BTW - a documentary about his journey debuts this weekend.

Charger: I pulled this out of my bag several times this week for myself and for friends – it worked for all of us even though we don't have the same brand of phone. A member of our SmartHER Community recommended it to us, and I've never looked back!